How Martindale's Defense Came Up Big in Michigan's 19-13 Bowl Win Over Alabama

The Wolverines struggled to stop opponents in earlier games, but finished the season by allowing only 9.7 points per game to Northwestern, Ohio State and the Crimson Tide for three consecutive wins

Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography

Wolverine star Derrick Moore, an edge rusher who will return for his senior season in 2025, set the tone early with big plays. Linebacker Ernest Hausmann (No. 15) helps celebrate his sack on a fourth-and-4 play on the game’s first drive.

By Steve Kornacki

Wink Martindale, take a bow.

What a story the Michigan defensive coordinator’s unit was down the season’s stretch run – which culminated with Tuesday’s 19-13 upset win over No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa.

The Wolverines allowed only 9.7 points per game in the last three contests, beginning with the Northwestern blowout and then an upset of No. 2 Ohio State. It was a tremendous turnaround after allowing 24.4 points over the previous seven games.

Martindale, a veteran NFL coordinator, took a while to find his defensive play-calling rhythm and learn about his players after being hired by first-year head coach Sherrone Moore. But then his defense held Northwestern to 6 points, the Buckeyes to 10 and Crimson Tide to 13.

“Our defense played incredible these last three games,” said Moore. “And a big shout out to Coach Wink…Our defense played lights out.”

So, fans and media members have gone from wondering if Martindale, 61, was a good hire to placing him on a pedestal with the Wolverines’ last two defensive coordinators – current Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Both, incidentally, were Martindale proteges on the Baltimore Ravens.

“Wink” is also known as the “O.G.” – short for Original Gangster, a slang term for someone exceptional, authentic and old-school.

He finally got this defense to produce consistently, putting them in position to be formidable against two of the most productive offenses in college football.

Keep in mind that Alabama was a 15-point favorite and OSU was favored by between 16.5 and 23.5 points.

And then consider that Michigan (8-5) turned the tide on the Crimson Tide (9-4) despite having three likely NFL first-rounders (defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant and cornerback Will Johnson), sacks leader Josaiah Stewart and talented safety Makari Paige all sitting out the bowl game at Raymond James Stadium.

However, defensive lineman Derrick Moore set the tone early with a sack on a fourth-and-4 play, fumble recovery and a rushed incomplete pass on a third-down play. He added another sack.

Michigan finished with five sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception by Tennessee transfer Wesley Walker. The Wolverines forced a season-high three turnovers all in the first quarter, taking a 16-0 lead.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was responsible for all three turnovers. One fumble came after he mishandled a shotgun snap and Moore pounced on it. The other came after a brilliant play by cornerback Aamir Hall, who slapped the ball away and into the left arm of charging teammate Cameron Brandt, who followed the bouncing ball to recover it.

Sophomore defensive back Brandyn Hillman, whose development took off during this three-game winning streak, was another star. He had a sack and broke up a fourth-down pass in the third quarter.

It was a very physical game.

“There was some hard hitting going on on both sides,” said Moore. “You could hear the pads popping. Our guys were delivering hits. They were delivering hits.”

Moore, asked about the play of his dominating D-line, said, “I mean, it was outstanding. You talk about one of the most explosive people in college football with Jalen Milroe. He can hurt you with his legs, he can hurt you with his arm. And I thought they did a really good job of funneling him in the pocket and making it uncomfortable for him, hitting him. I thought our D-line just did an outstanding job.”

Moore then credited defensive line coach Lou Esposito, defensive analyst Kevin Wilkins and defensive graduate assistant coach Pernell McPhee for their contributions to developing the linemen.

“Credit to the players,” continued Moore. “You don't have Mason Graham, you don't have Kenneth Grant -- so people think there's this big falloff. Those are two incredible players, but our guys really take a lot of pride in being physical, and we wanted to do that all this bowl camp, and we really did, tried to tune up the physicality to make sure we're fundamentally sound, and I thought those guys did a really good job.”

Michigan took that 16-0 lead in a first quarter played in a lengthy downpour.

“The coolest part of that was it started to rain, and the boys went crazy,” said Moore. “It was like a party. I was like, ‘What's going on?’ They love stuff like that. They love adverse environments that people don't expect, but they enjoy that.”

Still, the game was there to win or lose in the final two minutes. The Crimson Tide had a first down at the Wolverine 15-yard line with 1:29 to play, but could not produce a single yard on the next four plays.

Milroe – who also came up short of the end zone on the final drive in the overtime loss to Michigan in the 2024 Rose Bowl national semi-final game – threw an incomplete pass out of bounds and through the end zone on first down.

On second down, season tackling leader Ernest Hausmann nearly made a diving interception on a tipped ball. But the Wolverines had to settle for a pass breakup.

On third down, Milroe was hit by blitzing cornerback Quinten Johnson and got off a wobbly incomplete pass while under heavy pressure.

On fourth down – and down to Alabama’s last chance – Milroe couldn’t get much on a throw that fell well short of wide receiver Rico Scott and four Wolverine defenders in the end zone. Defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny, with arms raised, was closing in on Milroe and forced the premature pass. Milroe couldn’t step into the throw properly.

“You’ve just got to tip your cap to Wink Martindale and this Michigan defense,” said ESPN analyst Brock Osweiler, a former NFL and Arizona State quarterback. “Such a valiant effort today — playing inspiring football from the get-go, and coming away with a huge win over Alabama.”

All that was left was for Michigan backup quarterback Alex Orji -- who replaced Davis Warren after he suffered a right knee injury on the first drive of the second half -- to take two knees after snaps in the victory formation.

Hail to the Victors, indeed.

Worth noting:

Freshman tailback Jordan Marshall – stepping up with Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards sitting out -- had many physical runs on 23 carries for 100 yards. Guard Giovanni El-Hadi had the big block on his 24-yard run to set up the crucial final field goal made by Dominic Zvada, making it a two-score game with a 19-10 lead.

Zvada made all four field goal attempts, and the Associated Press All-American was 21-for-22 for the year. He’s returning for his senior season.

Michigan is 4-3 in both Tampa bowl games (Hall of Fame, Outback and ReliaQuest) and against Alabama.

Hudson Hollenbeck, a junior transfer from Mississippi State, boomed a 69-yard punt in his first action aside from holding on point-after attempts. The left-footed kicker replaced Tommy Doman, who entered the transfer portal.